Device simultaneously displaying portions of both sides of an endless belt

ABSTRACT

A wheeled toy vehicle or the like is provided, and includes an endless belt having indicia on both sides and roller means and surface guide means about which the belt is trained which are arranged so that the belt moves along a first surface with a first side exposed and along a second overlying surface with the second side exposed. In the illustrative embodiment, the overlying surface is shaped to be suggestive of a bridge, the first side of the belt is printed with water-suggestive indicia and the second side with representations of automobiles so that as the vehicle is pulled, the belt is driven and the impression of automobiles moving over a bridge under which water is flowing is created.

United States Patent 1191 Perkins DEVICE SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING PORTIONS OF BOTH SIDES OF AN ENDLESS BELT [76] Inventor: Gary Perkins, 474 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, 111. 60610 [22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 322,369

[1 11 3,798,809 [4 1 Mar. 26, 1974 255,968 8/1926 Great Britain 40/96 Primary ExaminerF. Barry Shay Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George H. Gerstman [57] ABSTRACT A wheeled toy vehicle or the like is provided, and includes an endless belt having indicia on both sides and roller means and surface guide means about which the belt is trained which are arranged so that the belt moves along a first surface with a first side exposed and along a second overlying surface with the second side exposed. In the illustrative embodiment, the overlying surface is shaped to be suggestive of a bridge, the first side of the belt is printed with water-suggestive indicia and the second side with representations of automobiles so that as the vehicle is pulled, the belt is driven and the impression of automobiles moving over a bridge under which water is flowing is created.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DEVICE SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING PORTIONS OF BOTH SIDES OF AN ENDLESS BELT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to toys, display devices and the like which employ endless belts to create a desired visual impression.

The use of flat, endless belts printed only on one side to create visual impressions is well-known, as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 843,642. In order to carry more information, the belts have been printed on both sides and twisted so that during movement both sides are exposed, as in the Mobius sheet; see, for example, British Patent Nos. 6,625 of 1894 and 255,968.

I have found that an attractive and useful display is created by providing a wheeled vehicle which, when moved, operates to move an endless belt having a crossover portion so as to display the indicia on both sides of the endless belt, with one side of the endless belt facing the viewer overlying the other side also facing the viewer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is provided by virtue of this invention a device, which can be used as a childs pull-toy, that employs a flat, endless belt which is trained about various rollers and guide means so that one portion of the belt moves over another portion in overlying relationship and at right angles thereto. Indicia are provided on both sides of the belt so that as the belt moves, different sides of the belt are exposed when the one portion of the belt passes over the other. It will be appreciated that in addition to use as a pull-toy, such a device can be used as an advertising display or the like.

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pull-toy made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toy shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the pull-toy shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the pull-toy shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the toy of FIG. 1 with the belt removed;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the endless belt and a pair of rollers for changing the direction of movement thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the endless belt and the direction of its movement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the vehicle 10 includes a pull-string 11 attached to an elongated carriage 12 having front and back ends 14 and 16, respectively, and a planar guide surface 17 therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 5, each end includes a pair of spaced ears 14a, 14b and 16a, 16b. Front and back rollers l8 and are mounted to the carriage in spaced parallel relation between the ears by shafts 18a and 20a, respectively, which pass through the respective ears and connect to the wheels 22, 24, 26 and 28.

A curved bridge-like member 30 is centrally mounted to the sides of the carriage to define a second guide surface 30a which extends over and is in overlying relationship with the planar guide surface 17. Each of a pair of spaced idler rollers 32 and 34 is mounted to the outboard sides of the carriage adjacent the lower ends of the member 30 and between pairs of spaced ears 36a, 36b, 38a and 38b to which the roller support shafts 32a and 34a are journaled. The axes of rotation of the side rollers lie in substantially the same plane as the axes of rotation of the end rollers but in a direction transverse thereto.

A pair of parallel, closely spaced, direction-changing rollers 40 and 42 are journalled for rotation by shafts 40a and 42a to the underside of the carriage 12 and spaced below the planar guide surface 17. The axes of rotation of these rollers lie in substantially the same plane as the axes of the end and side rollers and at about a 45 angle to each of said axes.

An endless belt 44 having sides 44a and 44b on which water-suggestive indicia and representations of auto mobiles are printed respectively, is trained about the rollers and guides so that side 44a is positioned upwardly as it moves on surface 17 below the overhead guide and the other side 44b is positioned upwardly as it moves over the overhead support 30 at right angles to the lower belt portion.

Beginning at the back end roller 20, the belt is trained thereabout, over the planar surface 17, about the front end roller 18 and to the direction-changing roller 42. The belt is threaded from the underside of roller 42 over the top thereof, to the outboard side roller 34, over the overhead support 30a, over the outer outboard side roller 32 and back to the other directionchanging roller 40. The belt enters this roller from the bottom, passes between the rollers and exits from the bottom side and then extends to the back end roller 20.

In operation, as the vehicle is pulled forwardly, the wheels drive the front and back rollers, which grippingly engage the belt 44, thereby moving it so as to create the impression of automobiles driving over a bridge under which water is flowing.

It is understood that numerous designs can be provided on the sides of the. belt. Furthermore, rather than moving the vehicle it can be stationary with the wheels held against a moving surface. In other arrangements, the belt could be driven directly in a sprocket-andchain-like manner or the roller shafts could be driven directly by a motor. One skilled in the art will appreciate that these and other modifications can be made to the embodiment disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. Display apparatus which comprises: a carriage having means defining a first guide surface; a first pair of rollers carried on said carriage in spaced, parallel relation, one member of the pair being at each end of said first surface, a second pair of rollers on said carriage in spaced, parallel relation to each other and disposed between the axes of rotation of the members of said first pair of rollers, with the axes of rotation of said second pair being transverse to the axes of rotation of said first pair; a pair of direction-changing rollers on said earriage in closely-spaced, parallel relation, said pair of di rection-changing rollers being disposed between the first and second pairs of rollers; overhead guide means on said carriage between the members of said second pair and extending over said first surface; an endless belt having a first side and a second side and being trained about said first pair of rollers and over said first guide surface therebetween, about said directionchanging rollers, about said second pair of rollers, and on said overhead guide means therebetween, so that said first side faces upwardly as it moves on said first surface and said second side faces upwardly as it moves over said overhead guide means; and means operatively associated with at least one roller of said first and second pairs for driving said belt over said rollers and guide means, said first and second pairs of rollers being located so that portions of both sides of said belt are simultaneously visible.

2. Display apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises wheels mounted to each of said first roller means for supporting said frame and for driving said belt.

3. Display apparatus as in claim 2, wherein thereis provided, on said belt, water-appearing indicia on said first side and automobile representative indicia on said second side so that as the belt moves, it appears as if automobiles are moving on a bridge over flowing water.

4. Display apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the axes of the direction-changing rollers form an angle of about 45 with the axes of the other rollers.

5. Display apparatus comprising a wheeled vehicle; rollers rotatably mounted on said wheeled vehicle, means for causing at least one of said rollers to rotate in response to movement of said vehicle; idler rollers coupled to said vehicle; an endless belt trained about said rollers; said vehicle having a first path for supporting a portion of said belt and a second path for supporting a portion of said belt, with said second path overlying said first path and lying transverse thereto; means on said vehicle for guiding said endless belt over said first and second paths in such a way that portions of both sides of said endless belt are simultaneously displayed to a viewer with one side being displayed on said first path and the other side being displayed on said second path.

UNITED STATES PATENT CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 798, 809 Dated March 26, 1974 Inventor(s) Gary Perkins It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, 1me'56; "Illustrated" should be Illustrative Column 2, line-l4, "jdurrialled'? should be journaled Column 2, line 33, "outer" should be other Signed and sealed this 3rd day of December 1974-.

(SEAL) Attest: 4 v

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM POWSO (169) v USCOMM-DC scan-poo I U-S. GQVERNuINT PRINTING OFFICE C 1,, -3-33l 

1. Display apparatus which comprises: a carriage having means defining a first guide surface; a first pair of rollers carried on said carriage in spaced, parallel relation, one member of the pair being at each end of said first surface, a second pair of rollers on said carriage in spaced, parallel relation to each other and disposed between the axes of rotation of the members of said first pair of rollers, with the axes of rotation of said second pair being transverse to the axes of rotation of said first pair; a pair of direction-changing rollers on said carriage in closely-spaced, parallel relation, said pair of directionchanging rollers being disposed between the first and second pairs of rollers; overhead guide means on said carriage between the members of said second pair and extending over said first surface; an endless belt having a first side and a second side and being trained about said first pair of rollers and Over said first guide surface therebetween, about said direction-changing rollers, about said second pair of rollers, and on said overhead guide means therebetween, so that said first side faces upwardly as it moves on said first surface and said second side faces upwardly as it moves over said overhead guide means; and means operatively associated with at least one roller of said first and second pairs for driving said belt over said rollers and guide means, said first and second pairs of rollers being located so that portions of both sides of said belt are simultaneously visible.
 2. Display apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises wheels mounted to each of said first roller means for supporting said frame and for driving said belt.
 3. Display apparatus as in claim 2, wherein there is provided, on said belt, water-appearing indicia on said first side and automobile representative indicia on said second side so that as the belt moves, it appears as if automobiles are moving on a bridge over flowing water.
 4. Display apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the axes of the direction-changing rollers form an angle of about 45* with the axes of the other rollers.
 5. Display apparatus comprising a wheeled vehicle; rollers rotatably mounted on said wheeled vehicle, means for causing at least one of said rollers to rotate in response to movement of said vehicle; idler rollers coupled to said vehicle; an endless belt trained about said rollers; said vehicle having a first path for supporting a portion of said belt and a second path for supporting a portion of said belt, with said second path overlying said first path and lying transverse thereto; means on said vehicle for guiding said endless belt over said first and second paths in such a way that portions of both sides of said endless belt are simultaneously displayed to a viewer with one side being displayed on said first path and the other side being displayed on said second path. 